New housing policies are showing results: Khaw Boon Wan

Almost 10,000 couples would have benefited from the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS) by January 2014.

Of these, about half are either expecting a child or have young children under the age of two.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan shared this in a blog post on Thursday.

He added that the backlog of first-time applicants has also largely been cleared.

Mr Khaw said it is a sign the government’s new housing policies are showing results.

The PPS was introduced in January this year.

It gives priority to married couples with young children, or who are expecting a child, and who are applying for a flat for the first time.

30 per cent of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and 50 per cent of balance flats are set aside for them.

Mr Khaw added the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), as well as the ramped-up construction of BTO flats has also helped.

He said all three initiatives are meant to help the young meet their aspirations when they are ready.

Mr Khaw said since the launch of the provisional housing rental scheme, nearly 800 flats have been taken up, and there are still vacancies, which means eligible families can apply for PPHS at any time and move into their temporary rental flats soon after applying.